When Framework began manufacturing computers in 2020, it was full of spunk and ready to support customers with increased customizability. It threw itself behind the right-to-repair movement — which is picking up steam throughout the computing industry.
The company’s founding principles resonated with buyers, and Framework is still putting together new configurations with the latest technology six years later. During the company’s Next Gen showcase on Tuesday, it showed off its most powerful laptop configuration yet: The Framework Laptop 13 Pro. Less of a refresh, more of a ground-up rebuild, this computer focuses on maintaining the customizability and right-to-repair fundamentals while juicing the battery life — the end result being a computer that will actually last you through a whole workday.
Other big Next Gen announcements include a refreshed 16-inch laptop, a wireless keyboard that integrates with the full slate of Framework computers and an external GPU prototype that could make the Framework Laptop 16 even more powerful in the future.
Framework continues to support backward compatibility with its computers, allowing you to slot the mainboard or display kit into an existing 13-inch chassis, if you own one.
Framework Laptop 13 Pro
The latest 13-inch Framework laptop still demonstrates the company’s commitment to computer customization and your right to repair the machine you own. It’s also powered by the latest Intel silicon, using Intel Panther Lake technology to make leaps and bounds in battery life.
Between a 22% increase in battery capacity and the new processors, the latest model offers 20 hours of battery life, according to Framework. That’s nothing to scoff at. It represents a 12-hour improvement over its predecessor and could very well bring the machine more in line with some of the best battery life laptops on the market right now.
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro is configurable with up to 64GB of memory and up to 8TB of storage. It has a 2,880×1,920-pixel resolution display with touch support — a first for a Framework laptop. It’s a slim, portable device that can pack some power if you’re willing to shell out for it. Framework says it wanted to build the “MacBook Pro for Linux users.”
If you already own a 13-inch Framework Laptop model, the company is continuing to support display and motherboard interchangeability, which means you can just order the new Core Ultra board and pop it into your existing device rather than buy an entirely new chassis.
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro and its associated mainboard and display kits are available for preorder now, with the first shipments rolling out in June. The Framework Laptop 13 Pro DIY Edition starts at $1,199, with prebuilt configurations starting at $1,499.
The new one-piece touchpad option can click right into place on the Framework Laptop 16’s chassis.
Framework Laptop 16
Don’t expect massive upgrades to the Framework Laptop 16 just yet. Framework passed over its 16-inch model in large part, offering only a small suite of cosmetic and spec updates.
Framework introduced support for a one-piece haptic touchpad and keyboard options for the laptop’s chassis, and added an additional color. The most important touch-up on the Laptop 16 is a new configuration featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 processor.
Any real Framework Laptop 16 power boost will arrive when the OCuLink Dev Kit becomes available for purchase — more details on that below.
The Framework OCuLink Dev Kit can function like an external GPU, letting your Framework Laptop 16 utilize a powerful graphics card.
OCuLink Dev Kit
Framework showed off a peripheral that will let you squeeze some more power out of the Framework Laptop 16, but it’s got a more nebulous release date than the new computers. The OCuLink Dev Kit is an adapter-and-dock system that will fit right into the expansion module slot at the back of the company’s 16-inch computer, allowing you to hook it up to outside devices.
The current iteration of the kit supports connections to system storage expansions, network cards, video capture cards and other devices. Perhaps most interestingly, the OCuLink Dev Kit will let you connect to a more powerful desktop graphics card, lowering latency and boosting frame rates on the Framework Laptop 16. According to Framework, we can expect to hear more about the OCuLink Dev Kit “later this year.”
Framework’s new peripheral comes in a dull gray color. Drab, but perfectly portable.
Framework Wireless Touchpad Keyboard
In the spirit of keeping your whole setup portable and keeping in line with Framework’s other announcements, the company teased a new wireless touchpad keyboard with a built-in touchpad.
The 68.8×85.6mm touchpad is located on the right side of the keyboard, which I imagine might be awkward to use at first if you’re more acquainted with the traditional keyboard layout. Still, multitouch gesture support is there for folks who are bothered by the tinier haptic feedback area. The keyboard supports wired connection as well as Bluetooth or USB-A dongles.
Just like with the OCuLink Dev Kit, Framework hasn’t provided any solid details about the release date or pricing for the Framework Wireless Touchpad Keyboard just yet.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
